Concrete-block-making machine



:5a um, mmm@ W'. KFEMMEF GONCHETE BLOCK MAKING' MMH'LNYJ Aug. 3 W26. LMME @..w Hammam CONCRETE BLOCH MAKEN@ MACHINE Filed migus; 6, 19215' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2? mg., 3 w @92% 127x W KWAMM@ CONCRETE BLGCK MAKING MACHINE Filed Augny: 6, 19?3 wfmw, ATTORNEY;

Aug. 3 1926. 1,594,842

` G. W. KRAMER CONCRETE BLCKNAKING HCHINE Filed August 1923 5 sheetsnee 5 ha uit ATTORNEY Patented ug..- 3,

tanti-a GEORGE KRAMER, OF IPEORA HEIGHTS, ILLINGIS.

CONCETE-BLOGKMAKING MACHINE.

Application filed August G, 1923. Serial No. 655,835,

a generally to automatic power machines of the arboreonentioned character, and especiallv to the molds, the tamping apparatus, and to operatingr and controlling mechanism relating to such n'iachines.

Ain objectof the invention 1s to provide improvements generally win machines of the abovconentioned character to enable them to be operated exmaditiously and with the minimum expense tor operators or attendants, and which shall be capable oit protlueing; a high grade ctmcrcte-block or brick.

Another obiect is to provide an improve-d mold in concrete-bloclcmairing; machines which shall be so construeted as to permit apid removal ot the product :from the molds in perfect condition. more particularly when made by thefwet process. D

.A 'further object is to provide an. 1mproved tanipingr` apparatus and improved operatingl and czntrolling meel'ianism there for` which shall lie-so constructed and combined aste insure the highest efficiency in the art of producing; compactness ot material in conerotablochs or bricks whichA shall result in permanently strong and durable blocks or bricks.

:l still furtherv object is to provide i111- prove-:l driving' means and controlling- 4apparatus i'or operating the tampine` apparau tus and other mechanism in machines ot the abtnl'cment'ionetl character. to the'end that expeditious. etlicient and economical oper ations may result.

With the abovcuncutioned and other objects in view. the .invention consists in a molding inachine having a sectional mold provided with a bottom adapted to be heated. means l'or automatically supplying' material to the. mold. improved tamping apparatus and4 means tor holding material in the mold coihpactly during' tampine' operations. and a power plant mounted in the machine so that its weight shall contribute to lhc'ctlicienclxA ol' the tampincv apparatus; and, the invention consists also 't'urthcr in the parts and combinations and arrangements ot` partsy as lnreinalter particularh7 described and i'urthcr deiuctl in the claims appended hereto. i

Referring' to the drawines- Figure'l is a l'ront elevation ot a machine constructed` substantially in accordance with the invention, the tannpingr and operating; mechanism thereof being shown in positions approach ingr the positions assumed in operation; Fig. 2 is a' tragnnentary detail approximately on the line HMH in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a rear elevationof the. machine. the lower portion of the elevator for supplying` the mold be ing broken away; Fig. It is a bottom plan of a novel grip plate comprised-lin the machine for holding: material 'in the mold and assisting the tamping apparatus to pack the material; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of' the machine approximately on the line V-l/ in Fig. l; Fig. 6 is atragmentary side view showing upper portions ol the Inachine and mechanism thereon; Fig. 7 is a t'agmentary section approximately on the line VH--Vl-I in Fig. l; Fig. tl is a sectional elevation approximately on the line V III-VIH in Fig. l, the" lower portion'ost` the elevator beine" broken away and the Worltilrqparts of the machine shown in dit ferent positions relatively to those in Figures l and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vsectional elevation also on the line VII- VII in Fie'. l and more vpa rticularlj-,f on the line IX-ff in the next ligure following; Fig. l0 is a fragmentary sectional elevation approximzit-elyv on the line )-X in Fie'. 9; Fig. l1 is a lrar'mcmtary horizontal sec-tion as on the line Bil-XI in F 9; Fig. l2 is a fragmentary section approximately central as on the line "vih-VH with various parts of the mechanism in relatively 'dit`- l'crcnt positions; Fig. l13 is a fragmentary section' showingy parts in. ditterent positions' relatively to those in the preceding figure: and, Fie'. 14 a fragmentary `section show; me' parts ol the mechanism in diiferent po sitions relatively to those in the preceding figure. i!

Similar `reference characters throughout the various ligures ofthe drawings indicate corresponding elements or features ol con struction herein referred to in detail,

A practical embodiment ot' the invention includes a stationary main l'rame in which a carriage is mounted for rertieal morement, and a bench arranged below the carringe and const ructed as a part ot the main trame. 'lhe main trame comprises a pair of sills l and l', posts .2 and 3 secured upon one ot the sills and posts l 'and 5 secured upon the other sill. the posts being 'adapted to constitutevertical guides .tor the carriage. A forward top beamv is secured y upon the posts 2 and 4 and a rear top beam is secured upon the posts 3 and 5, tie bars 8 and 9'being secu-red to the beams above the posts. The beams are suitably braced relatively to the posts. The frame includes also inclined members 10 and 11 secured to the sills respectively, and also to the rear beam 7 adjacent to the tie bars. Two stands 12 and 13 are mounted upon the top beams and support sheaves 14 and 15 respectively.

The carriage comprises front and rear lower rails 16 and 17 and front and rear upper rails 18 and 19, and a suitable number of transverse members 20 and 21 secured there to, slide bars 22 and 23 secured to the front and rear rails respectively and guided by the posts 2 and 3 respectively, and similar slide bars 24 and 25 secured to the rails and ,guided by the opposite posts, the carriage having also t-ie bars 26 and 2b" secured to the lower rails. An equalizer beam 27 is pivoted n at its center to the carriage. A stand 28 is leo ' secured upon the middle portion of the upper rails of the carriage and supports a sheave 29. The carriage is lifted and controlled partially ybv means heretofore employed, comprisimcr a shaft 30 mounted in the transverse members of the carriage and having a ,gear Wheel 31 and a winding' spool 32 thereon, also a clutch 33 and a governor 34, the clutch having an arm 35 to which a spring suitably supported is connected, and also an oppositely arranged arm 37. A main controlling lever 38 is arranged at the front of the carriage and has a crook 39 extending about the post 2, a short lever arm 40 extending from the crook and beingr connected to the carriage by means of a bracket 41 provided with a pivot 42 directly supporting;` the arm 40, a link 43 being connected to the arms 37 and 40 for controllingT the, clutch. A chain or cable 44 is connected to the windintr spool and extends over the sheaves 14 and 15 and under the sheave 29 and is connected to the top of the carriage. A shaft 45 is rotatably mounted in transverse members of the carriage and has a suitable number of cranks 46 to operate'the tampers, a Ic'ear wheel 47 beine secured to the shaft and in. engagement with the gear wheel 31. A sprocket wheel 48 is arranged on the crank shaft and provided with a suitable clutch 49 which normally clutches the wheel to the sha ft, the clutch being provided with a con trollingr lever 50 pivoted to the carriage at 51. the lever extendingfat an :inclination above the carriage so as to be carried into contact with the top beam of the main frame when Athe carriage is elevated and act to unclutch the sprocket wheel 48 and prevent damage to the carriage. An electric motor 52 is mounted on the lower rails of the carriage and so as to counterbalance. the liftingr apparatus, and it has a driving sprocket wheel 53 which is connected by a sprocket chain 54 with the sprocket wheel 48. A switch-board 55 is,mountcd on the carriage so as to be conveniently near to the operator who stands within reach of the controlling lever, and circuit wires 56 are connected with the switch-board and the motor, feed wires 57 beingr connected to the switchboard, and a suitable switch 5S is mounted on the switch-board. The winding spool being adjacent to one end oi. thc carriage, the motor is arranged adjacent io thc opposite end of the carriage, the machinery being so disposed as to cause the carriage to be practically balanced on the shcave 29, all allording,T considerable weight lo force down the necessary tampcrs.

l ln order to drive machinery on the bench of the main frame a transniission shaft 59 is rotatably mounted on the inclined members 10 and 11 of the main frame in suitable journal boxes G0 and G1 supported by the members. and the shaft has sprocket wheels G2 and G3 secured thcrcto. The shaft extcnds out beyond the frame and has a sprocket whccl G-lsecured thereto whereby to drive the shaft. A stub axle is supported on the upper rearward portion of the A main frame and supports a guide sh'eave GG.

another stub axle G7 being secured to the front post 4 and supports a guide sheave (3S at a suitable distance lower than the shaft 59. .i stub axle G9 is secured to tho upper portion of the carriage. so as to be vertically above the axle G7 and it supports a guide shea ve 70. The shaft 45 extends out beyond the frame and has a sprocket wheel 71 secured thereto. to which a sprocket chain 72 is connected that extends about thc shcave G6 and partially-about the sprocket wheel 64 and also under the sheave GS and. over the sheave TO. this permitting thc shaft Ai5 to drive the shaft 59 during movement of the cai-rinde without slackening or tightening the driving` chain. i

The bench is provided with a. base plate 73 that is arranged between the sills 1 and 1 and a compact substantial bench frame comprising side members 74 and 74 and transverse members 75 is secured upon the plate, standards 76 and 77 being secured on the pla tc adjacent to one side ofthe bench frame and other standards 78 and 79 secured upon the plate adjacent to the opposite side of the bench frame. The standards extend upward higher than the bench frame and support a. hopper SO which is arranged rearward of the plane, of movement of the carriage. Inclined frame members 81 and S2 are secured to the hopper and to the. rearward top beam 7 and may suitably assist in supporting the shaft 5f). The hopper has a shiftable'lxittom. which will be further described, and it extends upward to a suitable height to afford ample capacity to receive material from an support the hopper.

weee/n 'i w 913 and drive elevator chains 91 that are,

,eur-fled on wheels 92 mounted on the sha'tt 93 supported on the lower portions of the.

side bare, the chains beine' provided with blades 9-l that are drawnupward on the bottom of the elevator to eleratc the material and force it from the upper end oit the' The elevator preferalily is steadied by braces 95 and 95 connected thereto .and to the etandarde that The wheel S7 is; automatically driven will be hereinalter explained.

The mold for concrete-blocks compl-lees a box which has a stationarvr haelt wall 9G from the top of which a table 97- extends rearward. the wall being lixed on the mold bench, the bench supporting trent members 98 and 98 opposite to the back. and the mold has end members 99 and 99 hinged to the bench. as hitherto. The moldbox comprises a :trent member 100.and a relatively right angle bottom member 101. The bench frame Supports a Shattltl haw ing rollers 103 thereon againstI the outer side ot the front member 100, and the front member preterably'has a shield 10ft thereon to protect the rollers trom concrete that 1n ay be worked over the top edge ot the mold. A cross-head 105 is guided for vertical movement between `members ol the bench. and it has connecting' rods 10G `and 100 connected thereto and pivotedjtojthe bottoni member 101 whereby' to elevate `the mold box and tilt, it over the rollers 103. Chaine 107 are connected to the erosie-head and to a windine-Shaft 1.08 mounted in the bench trame and haring a Sprocket wheel 109 `loose thereon. which may be connected to the Shaft' h v means ot a Suitable clutch 110` operated b3". means ot a connecting rod -f111 that is connected therewith and valen with a Jfoot lever 112 pivoted to the bench frame and provided -with a retractingr sprint! 113 that is so connected with the, clutch an to normally unclut-"h the sprocket wheel. The shaft 10S`beint.r in the front portion? of the liench. a guide wheel 114 is supported on the rearward portion `t the bench onpoeite to the wheel 10thr and a guide wheel 1.1.1 `|f-l Supported intermedi '-eljl of the forward and rearward portions of the bench and higher than the wheel 109. A sprocketrhain 11G is arranged in co11neetion with the wheel 63 and the wheel 8T, extendingl over the wheel 88, under the wheels 111 ,and 115 and about the wheel 100` whereiny the elei'ator is operated and alfa) the shalt 10S is rotated. when desired. The bottom member 101 of the mold box lapports a mold bottom 117 that has a chamber 11S therein to receive steam whereby to heat the mold bottom. and the face plate which in some caees ma;7 be placed upon th'e bottom to iuold rock-face blocks. A .euitable Steam-boiler 119 is arranged in a courenient place. and a flexible conduit is couned'ed to the top thereof and extends into the yteam chamber 118 and nearlyT to the top thereof remote from the 'front member 100 to conduct steam into the chaniber, a flexible conduit 121 being, connect-ed to thel bottom ot the eteanrchamber adjacent to the trout nicmber100 and with the stearn.

boiler to conduct the water of condensation back to the steameboiler. A suitable pallet for each block is arranged against the front member 100 ot the mold box and reste ou the bottoni 117. f

The lower end o1c thehopper 80 ter1n-A inatcs at aeuitahle distance above the table 97. and a drawer is provided for movingt the concrete trom the h'opper to the mold. the material being' r'eceived onto the table from the hopper. the drawer cornprisiner a' main part haring sides 123 and 124. a transverse wall 125. a plate 126 extending rearward from the top of the, `wall in con? tact with the lower end of' the hopper to cone-tituloa temporary. hopper bottom, and

a'iront wall 12T connected to the Sides of the drawer and extendingr downward a short distance. A strike-oli roll 128 is mounted under the 'tront wall 127 in con ncet'ion with the side-s of the drawer. The. aidev ot' the drawer haveeach a llanee 129 .luided between rollers 130 and 131 mounted on the standards to support the hopper to relieve the drawer 'from wear upon the table 911.., rlhc Strike-ott roll lQS has' a. 4eproelct wheel 132 ou its snpi'iortiner shaft andpret- 'crablr also a euitaljile clutch 133 whichv ob'- rionfllr n\.a v be variously operated'as mai7 be desired.

ol' the etandarda :n'ljacent to the front .por-v tion ot the hopper. and a lsimilar ehr-ave 135 is .enpiuirtcd adjacent to the rearward portion ot the hopper:y a `e'uide I@heave 130 is Supported on the drawer adiacent-to its1 rearward end` and a rprocltet chain 137' ex- `tends about the sprocket wheels (i2l and lti' l`he.Stril e-ot`t roll if: automatieallv rotated in one direction and to thier end a fluide sheare l-lt is supported on onethe carriage for vertical movement relatively to the carriage, and a head bar 139 is secured to the traine bars so as to be above one ot' the top rails of the carriage to be engaged thereby and carried upward with the carriage. A guide frame or bar 140 is arranged in proximity to the lower ends ot the traine bars and the bars extend through and are secured to the guide frame. novel grrip plate 141 is secured to the lower ends ot the traine bars 138 and 138. the grip plate being arranged above the mold and so as to press down upon the material in the mold during tamping operations. The grip plate, corresponding to the niold, is oblong in plan and the under side. thereof` has a. Ojuard projection 142' adjacent to each enti thereof which assist the tanipeis to force the material downward in the i'nold and also prevent the material from working;` over the tops of the ends of the inold. rl`he under side of the grip plate has also a suitableJ number of cavities 143 troni `each of which an aperture 144 extends. The under side of the grip plate has also a` suitable number of wedges or V- shaped sprcaders 145 thereon arranged interniediately ot thev cavities. A suitable number et tamper bars 146 are connected to the cranks a6 and extend loosely through the zguide frame 140 and also through the apertures 1411-. the lower end ot each tamper bar havingr a tampinir-head 147 thereon that may be received in the adjacent cavity 143. The spreaders operate to force the concrete material to the tainping-heads to insure compactness ot' the material, while the grip plate is forced down by its own weight and that of the guide bar and the traine bars. ln order to augment the weight on the trip plate during' the final tainpingr operations the traine bars 138 and 133 have notches 1473 in the forward side thereof.

vand a latch bar 140 is pivoted to the transverse bar 26 and extends across the other bar Q7 and downward to' the lower rail 16 ot the carriage, permitting it to be swung bach' into the notches so as to cause the weight ot' thc carriage and machinery there-- on to bc exerted downward on the grip plate at times when the mold contains the iiiaxiinuin quantity ot material and a surplus of material piled higher than the mold.

.For the purpose of operating and controlling the drawer to supply the inold with material. the upper forward portion ot the drawer is provided with a pivot bar 156 to which two operating bars 151 and 152' are connected and arranged to extend rearwardly. each operatingT bar having;- a notch. '153 adjacent to its end and another notch 154 at a. suitable distance troin the end. the notches being` in the under side of the bar. A shalt 155 is mounted on the rearward standards that support the hopper, being rotatable. and two bell cranks 156 and 157 are secured to the shaft. @ne arm of each bell-crank has a wrist-pin 158 thereon to be carried into the notch 154 of the adjacent operating bar. the bars being at times lowered until the notches 153 receive the portions oi'v the shaft 155 adjacent to the bell-cranks. Two connecting rods 159 and 160 are pivoted to the opposite arms of the bellcranlrs respectively. and also to the carriage. preferably to the equalizer beam 27 pivoted io a vertical traine bar secured to the lower rearward rail 17 thereof, whereby the nell-cranks are operated synchronously with the movements of the carriage. PreterabiVI a coil springr 161 is `coii nected to each operating bar and connected to a convenient part of the inold bench oi' stationary trarne.

`When it is desired to inalie hollow concretebloclrs. which usually are preferable. the back wall 96 of the mold is provided with a suitable number or' apertures 162 in which cores 163 are horizontally arranged. half cores 161 being arranged adjacent to the ends 99 and 99 of the inold. The rear end ot' each core has a guide bar 1,65 lixed thereon that extends rearward and is movably guided in a bearing: 166 supported by the bench traine. yolre 167 is fixed t0 the rear end or' one of the cores and may be carried to and stopped against a bearing post 168 supported by the bench traine which may be adapted to assist in guiding the bars 165. .l yntrolling' bar 169 is pivoted to the yolic and extends over and beyond the guide post. so as to he supported thereby and it has a cross bar 170 secured thereto. to which coil springs 171 and 171 ire connected that are connected to a suitable part of the bench. preferably adjacent to the under side of the table 97. being designed 'to thrust thc coros forward into the mold in advance ol the charging.r of the mold with concrete material. The controlling var 169 has an inwardly extending neck 172 fixed thereon troni which an arm 173 extends rearward between the sides 123 and 124 or' the drawer. the under side of the arin having a latch projection 1711- thereon and also en upwardly extending curved guide 175, the projection beingT arranged to engage the outer side of a cross bar 176 fixed to the sides ot' the drawer and across which the arni may ne projected. The neck 172 has also an abutment 177 thereon projecting forwardly to be engaged by a cain 178 that is secured to the shaft 155 whereby to forcibly start retraction of the cores from a molded block when the bellcranks are powerfully operated. ln order to release the latch projection to permit sudden projection of the cores a cani 179 is secured to a shaft 180 mounted on the rearward portion or' the bench frame. the cam being beneath the controlling bar 1G9`and operatiframe to retract the lever `and the cam.

p the advancing drawer.

'lhus equipped with cores .a hollow block 1535 may be molded in the machine.

.ln practical use, having started the motor, a wet concrete mixture supplied in any desired manner to the elevator on which the ldrawer is in retracted position which permits the concrete to tall upon the table 97 which then constitutes the bottom of the hopper. 'At the beginning the carriage is in elevated position and the clutch 19 enables the motor to drive the machine, the bell cranks 156 and 157 being so tilted that a wrist-pin thereon shall be in the notches 154 in the operating bars, the drawer being retracted, therefore receiving-a' charge ot'` material. yThe drawer holds the cores in retracted position, as seen clearly in Fig. 12. 'lhe operator maiiipulatcs the main control lever 38 as is customary to permit descent and control of the carriage which lowers the tamper bars and the grip plate Vto cooperatetherewith in the tamping operations. As the carriage descends it Causes tilting of the bell-cranks which acting. on the operating bars cause pro jeetion o l' the drawer; and as the drawer begins to advance the operator dept-ceses the toot lever 183 which pulls down the rod 182 and operates 'thecann 179 so as to disengage the latch projection 174: from the drawer, the springs 171 then suddenly thrusting the cores into the mold before the mold is charged with material by' As 'the drawer advances the plate 126 temporarily becomes the bottom of the hopper and prevents further flow of the material, the strike-ott roll 128 preceding the movement of the concrete material. lfollowing the charging of the mold with material the carriage is permitted to lower the tamper bars into the .material in the meld, the weight `ot the carriage and the equipment thereon forcing the tamper hars downward, the grip plate being tree to operate. bythe force of gravity to hold down the material while the tamping heads pack the material in the `mold with rapid short` strokes, the tamper bars descending one at a time in succession. While the material is beingv tamped so asfto he packed under and between the cores, the material is held down by the grip plate and the il-shaped spreaders 14.5 cause the material above the cores to be forced over to the tamper bars. The wet mixture having been thoroughly packed until the mold is nearly lilled, additional. mixture is fed to the mold so that there shall be a surplus of material which holds up the grip plate suljliciently hi'gh to bring thespreaders above the plane of the top el? the mold during the final tamping, during which the weight of thecarriage and its equipment is transferred by means of the latch bar 1119 onto the grip plate, thus insuring cornpactncssot the upper portion of the concrete block, resulting in the Water proofing of the block throughout. The tamping operations having been completed, the carriage is caused to be elevated, the upward movement of the carriage carry ing up the tamper bars and causing the latch L19 to be automatically released from the notches 148,(permitting the carriage to engage the head bar 139 whereby the grip plate trame is elevated with the carriage. As the carriage rises the4 beILCranls are automatically tilted to retract the drawer and thecores. As the drawer is retracted the strike-ofl'-roll 12S is drawn across the top el the mold and the molded block and is rotated automatically by its train of gearing, the roll and the front `wall 'of the drawerforcing the surplus material back onto the table 97, the roll in its travel4 being turned in thedirection contrary to the rolling 'movement and causing troweling of the surface'of the block. As the bell-cranks are tilted theshaft 155 is rotated and the cam 178 is'swung around into engagement with the abutment 177 whereby the cores are powerfully started to move backward before the latch projection 174: is engaged bythe drawer, the engagement subsequently oocurring to enable the drawer -to complete the withdrawal of the cores and hold them in clutch to connect the wheel 109 to the' winding-shaft 10S, whereby the bottom 101 of the mo'ld box isdireetly forced upward until the Jfront 100 of the mold lbox is tilted over theirolls 108, the movement of the mold box causing clean stripping of the concrete-bloek from the back and ends of the mold and being brought to a convenient position for removing the block on its pallet from the mold box. The heated mold bottom partially dries the material in eontact therewith and prevents sticking of the material to the bottoni as the block is drawn away from the bottom, thus insuring a perfect Ytace on the block which is to become a portion ot a wall face. During the movement of the carriage the bell-cranks are or may be moved more than necessary to cause escasas movement of the material drawer, and as the bell-cranks lower the controlling bais the shaft l55.is received in the notches 153u so as to prevent further unnecessary. downs ward movement of the bars and permitting'l the wrist-pin 158 to be carried down from the notches 154, the` wrist-pin being again brought up into the latter notches as the carriage moves upward and the drawer is required to be retracted by means of the bell-cranks.

N hat l claim as new'isr-l l. A machine including a mold having an artificially heated bottom, a hopper, a mov-- able drawer to transfer material from the hopper to the mold, and tamping apparatus to operate on the material and pack it on the heated bottom thereof.

2. A machine including a. mold, a movable drawer to fill the mold, a carriage and connections to automatically move the drawer synchronously therewith, tainping apparatus supported by the carriage, and a strike-off device carried by the drawer.

3. A machine including a mold, means for heating the mold, tamping apparatus to operate in the mold, a ho per, a drawer to transfer material from t e hopper to the mold, and eonnections/co-operating with the tamping apparatus and the drawer to move the drawer in synchronism with the operations of the tamping apparatus.

4. A machine including a mold, means to conduct heating medium to the mold, driving mechanism, tamping apparatus operated by the driving mechanism, a carriage for the tamping apparatus, a drawer to till the vmold controlled by the carriage, a rotary strikeo roll mounted on the drawer, and a train of gearing connected with the driving mechanism and the strike-olf roll to rotate the roll. L

5. A. machine including a mold, a carriage vertically movable above the mold, a grip plate to exert gravity pressure on plastic material in the mold and provided with a frame to be periodically lifted by the carriage, and tamper bars actuated on the carriage and extending movably through the grip plate to operate on the plastic material in the mold.

6. A machine including a mold boi; having a vertically movable and tilting member, a winding-shaft and connections to lift and tilt the mold box member, tampers to co operate with the inold box, operating gearing for the tainpeis, a train of gearing connected with the operating gearing and also loosely with the winding-shaft` and means for clutchingthe winding-shaft at will to the train ol gearing.

7, A machine including a vertically mov-I able and tiltuble mold box, tainpci's to operl ate in the mold box. a vertically movable carriage having guides for the tampe'i's,

power driving' mechanism for operatingthe Lamp-rs mounted on ihe caiiiagd und incansfoi' having connection with the driving inccuauisui and die mold box for lifting and tilting' the incid box.

8. it machine including :i mold, a hopper, a drawer to move material l'ioin thc hopp er to he mold` a vertically movable curiiage provided with tamper guides, tiiinpci's guided by the .guides to operate in the mold, driving mechanism mounted on the carriage to operate the taiiipers, and means having equalized connection with ihe carriage und the drawer for ruieratiii; r the drawer.

9. A machine including a frame, a mold box vertically movable and tiltable on the frame. tanipers to operate in the inold box, a winding-shaft and connections to lii't and tilt the mold box. a vertically movable curriage having means to guide the tainpcis, a train of gearing to operate the tampcis including a driven wheel loose on the windingslia., and means to clutch the driven wheel to the winding-shaft.

l0. A machine including a mold, a carriage vertically movable above the mold, a grip plate to exert gravity pressure on plustic material in the mold and having a iianic fixed thereto to be periodically lifted by thc carriage, tamper bars actuated on the cai-- riage and guided iii the grip plaie to operate in the mold to pack the plastic inaterial under the grip plaie` and means for imparting the weight of the carriage to the 1frame or' the grip plate.

ll. machine including a mold ici' Plastic material comprising a inold back, a roll supported opposite to the mold back, a mold box comprising;I a front member and a relatively right-angled bottom member, mold sides` i mold bottom supported upon said bottoni member and having a heatingchainbcr therein, tampeis to operate in the mold. and means to raise the mold box and tilt the front member thereof over said roll,

l2. A. machine. includingI ii mold, cores movable into or out oit` the mold, a hopper, a drawer operating to move material from the hopperio the mold. means to connect the cores with the drawer to move .fic coi-es by the drawer out of the inold, means to start the cores in advance of connection thereof with the drawer` means lo release the cores from the drawer when out ol the mold', and means to thrust the coros into the mold suddenlywhcn released and in ,advance of operation of the drawer.

13. A machine including a stationary iii-aine` a carriage vertically movable in the frame` a mold below thc carriage, tamper bars movablv guided bv the carriage to operate i1 the mold. driving means to operate the .ainpcr bars. a motor mounted. on the carriage and connected with the driving' means, means actuated bv die driving means for raising the carriage, and means actuated by the desi-ent of the carriage and the motor thereim to retard the downward 'movement ot the` carriage.

14. A. machine including a' stationary frame. a carriage vertically movable in the main traine, a. mold below the carriage, tamperbars guided by the carriage, driving mechanism 'l'or the taniper bars mounted on the carriage, an elevator lined to the stationary traine, a rotatable shalt mounted on the stationary trame, elevator gearing having connection with the rotatable shaft to be operated thereby, and means constantly connected with the driving` mechanism and .the'rotatable shaft to rotate the shaft.

l5. A machine including .a mold, a hopper, an elevator, a drawer under the hopper, a vertically movable carriage, a rotary strikebtf roll mounted on'the drawer, operating means for theI drawer connected there- -with and with the carriage, talnpers guided 'the carriage to operate in the mold, driv ing mechanism on the carriage toi operate the tai'npers,'a train of gearing;l connected with the driving' mechanism and the strikeotl' roll, and driving means for the elevator connected with the train. ot' gearing.

1G. A machine including a tranne, a mold on the frame, a liopper, 'a draw-tu.' to move material from the hopper to the mold, a carriage vertically movable in the frame and provided with tamper guides, means including an equalizer and connected with the drawer and the carriage to operate the drawer on movement ot' the carriage, tampers guided by the tamper guides, a rotary strike-ott' roll carried by the drawer and having a' drivingr wheel thereon. and a train of gearing to operate the tampers having operative connection with the driving wheel of the strike-off roll.

V17. A machine including a stationary i frame, a vertically movable and tiltable mold box, tampers to operate in the mold box, a ui'indingshaft and connections to' lift and tilt the 'mold-box, a driven' wheel loose on the .vindingsshaft, aclutch to connect the driven wheel operatively to the windingshaft, a driving wheel mounted on the statiOnaryrame, a carriage movable in the stationary frame, a bevlt connected with the drivingwheel and the driven wheel, and power operating mechanism for the tampers mounted on the carriage and having driving connections to rotate the 'driving wheel.

lSfA machine including a mold, a vertically movable'carriage, agrip plate having a frame guided by the carriage for vertical movement, the under side otthegrip plate having wedgjveshapecl spreaders thereon, a guide bar secured to the grip late frame above the plate, a crank-sha t rotatably -mounted on the carriage, tamper bars connected to the crank-shaft and extending mov ablythrough the guide bar and also through the grip l'plate between the spreader-s, the tamper bars being weighted by the carriage when in operation, and means to periodically weight the grip plate by the carriage.

i9. A machine inelnding a stationaryv frame, a carriage vertically movable in the main frame, a-stationary bench below the carriage, a mold on the bench, a hopper on the bench higher than the mold, a power generator mounted on ythe carriage, a cranle `sha't't mounted on the carriage and driven by' the. generator, tamper bars guided by the carriage and operated by the eranlreshafn'a gri-ip plate to co-operate with the tamper bars,

riage ba ving' connection with theeranlr-ebaft, a rotatable shaft mounted on the stationary frame and having connection with the cra-nirshat't to be rotated thereby, an elevator operated by the vrotatable shaft, a drawer operated by the carriage;` and arotary strike.-y oit roll ou the drawer operated by the rotatable Shaft. 4 y

20. In a molding-machine, the combination means for moving;l and controlling the ear` with an open-top mold, of tampers and a grip plate eo-operatinp` to pack material in the mold, the tampers working in the niaterif al and the grip plate exerting gravitygtorcc and bearing down upon the material.

21. ln a molding-machine, the combination with arnold, cores projectal'ile into the mold, and a drawer to move `materiaLto the mold, of operating means connected to the mold and connectible tothe drawer to with draw the cores 'from the mold, and a spring,r connected to said means and Supported to .rapidly project the cores into the mold.

Qa. In a molilingmacliine, the combina* tion with a mold, a vertically movable ear-` riage, and a horizontally movable drawer, oi a bellrrank pivotally supported adjacent to thedrawer, a connecting rod piroted to the carriage and to the bell-crank, and an operating;r bar pivoted to the drawer and to the belbcrank.

r 23. In ay molding-machine, the eonibina. tion with a stationary frame, a carriage vertically movable in the frame, and an opentop mold below the carriage, of a crank-shaft rotatably supported on the carriage, tamper bara connected to the erankshaft', means controlled by the carriage to guide the taniper bars to operate in ythefmoldl` and a power y generator bodily supported on the carriagey and rotating thecranleshattat highspeed.

24. In a moldinganachine, the combination with an open-top mold, of a grip plate to press down upon material in the mold and having wedges to spread the material, a

cured to and bearing' down on the frame,

and means to operate the tamper bars.

25. In amolding-machine, the combination with a mold back, mold ends, and a vertically movable and tiltable mold box to support a pallet?, of a mold bottom supported by the mold box' and having a steam-chamber therein, a steam-boiler, a `flexible conduit connected with the upper portion ot' the steamboiler and extendinginto the steam-chamber, a flexible conduit connected with the bottom of the steam-chamber and with the steam boiler below the top thereof, and tamping apparatusl to operate above the mold bottom.

26. ln a molding-machine, the combination with an open-top mold, of a grip plate to press down upon material in the mold and having cavities in the under side thereof, tamper bars extending movably through the cavities and haa/ino *camping-heads thereon to operate below the grip plate and also upward into the cavities respectively, a carriage vertically movable above the grip plate7 a frame secured to the grip plate and vertically movable in the carriage. and

means mounted on the carriage to operate.

' ing bar from the drawer, and'means for suddenly moving the operating; bar when unlatched to project the cores in advance of movement of thedrawer to move the ma- 28. ln a molding-machine, the combina.- tion "with an open-top .mold, a hopper, a drawer to move material from the hopper to the mold, and a rotary strike-off roll carried by one end df the drawer and provided with a sprocket. wheel to rotate it, of transmission shaft supported higher than the hopper a sprocket wheel secured to the transmission shatt, a ide sheave carried on the opposite end of the drawer, two `ruido sheaves sup- `ported in fixed positions adjacent to the drawer, and a 'sprocket chain extending'y about the two sprocket wheels and alll the guide sheaves.

29. ln a molding-machine, the combination with an open-top mold, and a carriage vertically movable above the mold. of a pair offrame bars vertically movable in the carriage and having cach a notch. in one side thereofI a latch bar pivotcd to the carriage to be moved into said notches to prevent upward movement or' the trame bars in the carriage, a grip plate secured to the lower mareas ends ot' the frame bars, tamper bars Inovably guided in the grip plate and havingr tainping-heads below the plate, and means on the carriage to operate the tamper bars.

30. In a molding-machine, the combination with an open-top mold, and a carriage vertically movable above the mold, of a frame vertically movable in the carriage, a grip plate secured to the frame, a guide bar secured to the frame grip plate. tamper bars extending movably through the guide bar and the gripplate to work in the mold, means on the carriage to operate the tamper bars, means to impart weight of the carriage to the frame, means to raise the carriage, and means to automati'ally retard descent of the carriage.

31. ln a molding-machine, the combination with an open-top mold, and a carriage vertically movable above the mold, of a pair of 'frame bars vertically movable in the carriage` a head bar secured to the frame bars to be engaged and lifted by the carriage, a grip plate secured. to the lower ends of the frame bars and having; apertures therein. the under side of the grip plates being provided with wedge-shaped spreaders and also projections adjacent to the ends of the plate tamper bars vertically guided in said apertures. and' means mounted on the carriage to operate the tamper bars.

32. ln a molding-madiine,` the combination of a stationary frame, a mold, means to heat the mold, a carriage vertically movable in the frame above the mold, a windingspool mounted in the carriage adjacent to one Sidethereoi, a power generator mounted as a counterbalance in the carriage adjacent to the opposite side thereof, a crank-shaft mounted in the carriage and rotated by the power generator, means enabling the crankshaft to operate the winding-sped, means to enable the winding-spool to centrally liftthe carriage, tamper bars connected tol the crank-shaft, and a guide for the tamper bars controlled by the carriage.

233. ln a molding-machine, the combination with a vertically movable mold box, a movable crosshead and connections to lift the mold box, a whirling-shaft, and a cable connected to the winding-shaft and the cross-head, of a driven sprocket wheel loose on thewinding-shaft, a transmission shaft supj'iorted higher than the winding-shaft, a driving sprocket wheel secured to the transinissioi'is'liait. two guide wheels suj'iorted in the "region of the winding-s mit, a sprocket chain extending j about the two sprocket wheels and the two guido wheels, and means to clutch the driven wheel at will to the winding-shalt.

l-i. ln a molding-machine. the combination with a vertically movable mold box, a wiirdinrr-shaft and connections to lift the mold box, and a hopper, of an elevator to above the messes supply the hopper, anl lelevator-dri,vin 4 sprocket Wheel, a driven sprocket Whee loose on the Winding-shaft, means to clutchl I the driven sprocket Wheel to the Windingshaft, a transmission shaft supported higher than the elevatoldriving Wheel, a sprocket Wheel secured to the transmission shaft, two

lguide Wheels supported in the r'gion of the 1anoding-shaft, a guide Wheel s pported on the elevator, and a sprocket chain extending about all the sprocket wheels and the guide Wheels 4 35. ln a moldng-machine, the combination with 'a stationary frame, a carriage verlll the other lar lower than the transmission shaft, a guide sheave mounted on the carriage higher than the crankshaft, and a sprocket-chain extendin about the two sprocket Wheels and all t eguide sheaves.

` 36. In a moldingfmachine, the eombination with a mold, and a drawer horizontally movable above the mold, of a carriage vertically movabley above the drawer, an equalizer pivotall connected at its middle portion to a me ian portion of the carriage, two bell-cranks pivotally supported adjacent to the opposite sides respectively of the drawer two connectinff rods ivoted to the 1 opposite ends respectively of the equalizer and also to the belbcranks respectively, and two operating bars pivoted to the drawer and lia-ving operative connections with the be1l-cranks respectively. y t In testimony whereof, l alix my signature on the 30th clay of June, 1923.

l GEORGE W. KRAMER. 

